By By Lori Dann
The Escambia County Blue Devils watched a large lead evaporate in the second half but still managed to hold on for a 59-56 victory over T.R. Miller Tuesday night in Atmore.
After a slow start left them trailing 9-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Blue Devils went on a 23-11 run to close the half and take a 29-20 halftime lead. They pushed their lead to 14 points by the end of the third before the Tigers came roaring back in the fourth.
Terrell McNeil led a balanced attack with 19 points, including 12 in the second-period run, and a tem-high eight rebounds. Twin brother Terrance McNeil added 14 points. Other offensive leaders were Barrett Finney with seven points, Steve Moore with six points and seven rebounds, Damien Robinson with five points and Jonathan Brown and Ricky Craft with four each.
Logan Lucas paced T.R. Miller with 26 points, while Michael Jackson had 14 and Jonathon Salter had 10.
Escambia County's junior varsity remained unbeaten at 5-0 Tuesday with a 35-28 win over T.R. Miller.
In what coach Scott Ware called one of the team's best performances, ECHS got seven points from James Wilson and six from Kenneth Clark to key a win which included scoring from nine players. Terrance Hazley, Mack Rodgers, Katral Johnson and Jerame Conn each had four points, and Adam Young, Johnny Knight and Earl Dailey chipped in two apiece.